The End of the Blah Blog and Carrot Ginger Soup!

Good evening, dear friends, followers, fellow bloggers and Twits (Hyacinth is not quite sure if people who tweet are twits, but that's what she'll call them)!



In a continuing effort to keep up the appearance of the blog, I have decided to enroll in a course at the local BOCES (no comments on this one, please - and you know who you are)! The Winter catalog course listings included six courses in their IT Academy (and IT stands for........?) promising to teach one skills that would prepare one for "a career in business communications, or just edit and adjust your own photos"! Hyacinth should have taken a hint from just that bit of course description and placed the entire catalog in the recycling bin! But- hope, after all, does spring eternal and the thought of being able to master Photoshop was too tantalizing to resist. Can you imagine all of the photos of my candle light suppers right here on the blog!?? The catalog stated that the course was "five sessions, 1/11-2/17/2010. Days M,W". Hmmmmmm.....a quick look at the calendar confirmed my suspicions that there was something not quite right with the scheduling. There are certainly more that 5 Mondays and Wednesdays between those dates - even allowing for a state holiday every now and then. And why did it clearly state DAYS, when the course meets from 6-9PM? The first nice lady who eventually answered the phone (and no, I do not wish to press NUMERO SIETE POR ESPANOL, thank you very much) agreed with me in principle, that there were too many days listed in the catalog, and promised to get right back to me. When she did not, of course, we were silly enough to try again. The next charmer confirmed that the class met on Mondays and Wednesdays and also agreed that there were too many days listed for class in the course description, and she would have the administrator who sets up the classes (and just conveniently stepped out of the room) call me immediately. It was been one week - ----perhaps Photoshop at the IT Academy is just not in the cards for me........I shall endeavor to keep you posted so to speak. On my next call to the dear people at said IT Academy, I shall personally volunteer to rewrite the entire catalog - it will probably boost enrollment by 1000%.

At any rate, dear readers, I do hope that you will be satisfied with the sparkle and pizazz of my prose until such time as I can manage to Photoshop my face onto the blog!

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I have had SO many requests for my famous Carrot and Ginger Soup Supreme that I must add it to this post. It has been the start of many a candle light supper and has never failed to wow my guests! Do be sure to print it out as you will no doubt have countless requests for this recipe! I usually quadruple it as a double batch is never enough! I do recommend using organic root vegetables as they really do taste better! Using baby carrots is not encouraged - and do not substitute anything for pure maple syrup!

Ingredients for a SINGLE BATCH
Makes 4 6oz servings, 60 calories each

3 TBSP diced onion
1/2 tsp olive oil
1 TBSP maple syrup
1/2 tsp honey
1 TBSP grated fresh ginger
1 cup chopped carrots (about 6 ounces)
3 cups vegetable stock
1/4 cup diced peeled sweet potato
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1.4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp minced garlic

• In a medium saucepan, saute onions in olive oil over low heat until they are translucent. Add maple syrup, honey and ginger. Cook until the onions turn golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes, until carrots are soft.
• Transfer to a blender in small batches and blend until smooth.
• Soup can be made ahead to this point and chilled. Simply return to a saucepan to warm over medium heat before serving.
• Transfer to a seasonally appropriate tureen and carfeully ladle into matching bowls. Enjoy!

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I do hope that all of your silver has been polished by now and that your linens are freshly pressed - if not, what are you waiting for??!! Thanksgiving is on Thursday!!! Do have a good evening - and remember, a day without Hyacinth just isn't that much fun!